Various & Sundry MSU News Items

A few newsy items have come across the wire today, so allow me to catch you up on them.

• Former MSU defensive end Pernell McPhee has signed a four-year, $2.18 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted him in the fifth round. He’ll get a signing bonus of $144,560. (via @RavensInsider)

As for the other ex-Bulldogs drafted, no word on their contracts yet. I’ve gotten a response from linebacker Chris White, who said he’ll be signing with the Buffalo Bills tonight. No specifics of his deal are available right now.

• Speaking of former Bulldogs, running back was released by the Atlanta Falcons. He should land with another team soon, but he has dealt with injuries throughout his career.

• Logan Lowery of Rivals.com reports that MSU football signee Josh Robinson, a running back from Franklinton, La., will join the team this fall as expected. So that means 20 of MSU’s 22 signees will be on campus for preseason camp. Shaquille Perry and Justin Cox are going the junior college route.

• Football coach Dan Mullen was on the Scott Van Pelt Show this afternoon, a segment that was taped Monday. Among the highlights: Mullen said he thinks MSU is ahead of schedule as far as the progress the program is making; he thinks everyone is “going in the right direction,” from fans to players to the student body to the administration; and he said MSU will “never” take shortcuts to success.

• Two of MSU’s 2011 foes are from Conference USA (both road games), and the media has spoken: Memphis (Sept. 1) was picked to finish sixth (last) in the Eastern Division, while UAB (Oct. 8) was picked fifth.